The Cotuit-Santuit Civic Association hosted four candidates seeking two prematurely available seats on the Cotuit Fire Department Prudential Committee Nov. 30 at the village’s Freedom Hall.
Vying for a term that ends in May of 2011 are Rick Barry and Diane Fay.
Barry is Cotuit’s town councilor, former head of the Cotuit-Santuit Civic Association, former moderator for the water and fire district, and an attorney. “This is a $3.6 million operation, and needs to be run like one,” he said emphatically. While he believes the former committee members did “a good job,” he also acknowledged that “the place is a mess and needs to be fixed up”.
Fay moved to Cotuit from Boston, where she was on the strategic planning committee for the Boston Public Library, vice president of the Massachusetts AFL/CIO, president of the Boston Public Library union, and chair of numerous boards. She also taught supervisory skills for the City of Boston. “I won’t take anything from the village,” she said, stating her opposition to village-subsidized health insurance for elected officials.
The other term concludes in May of 2012, and is sought by Richard Capen and Laurie Hadley.
Capen is owner of Capewide Enterprises home improvements. A Cape native, he worked as a retail research consultant before moving back to raise a family. The difficulties he saw on the board prompted his interest. “If I got the signatures, then I’d run,” Capen explained. “And here I am.” Admitting he had no political history, he asserted that if elected he would “do the best possible job I can.”
Hadley decided to run after being asked, “Because I knew what was going on” in the district. She has been taking notes at meetings “since her grandfather was involved with the fire department,” and believes she has been to “more meetings than anyone except the treasurer.” Hadley also noted that she wasn’t looking to “make this a career” and that she would only serve the half-term.
After five-minute introductions from each candidate, moderator Stew Goodwin opened the floor up to questions, chief among which were concerns about the district’s financial state, and that of Freedom Hall, which has been plagued by mold issues.
“I am tough,” said Fay, who described herself as a fiscal conservative who is “quick to say no” to unnecessary spending.
“We are a little place, and this is our place,” said Barry. He claimed a good working relationship with Prudential Committee member Amy Kates, and said he would “dive into all the issues and take a look at the books.”
Capen cited his experience trying daily to lower costs for his own business. “There’s always ways to save money, and sometimes its’ difficult,” he cautioned.
“There’s only two areas the Prudential Committee has any effect on the budget, streetlights and Freedom Hall,” said Hadley. She said they could “suggest and argue” with the fire commission, but ultimately “it’s up to the voters in the district”.
Hadley and Fay also said they would not take health insurance at the expense of the village, while Barry said he was already covered until the end of his term as a town councilor and Capen admitted “there’s a possibility” he would accept it.
Barry noted that as far as Freedom Hall is concerned, “you folks are the boss. We can put it on the warrant, but you have to pay for it.”
“We need to find out the tolerance of the people to spend money,” Capen noted, suggesting the possibility of a capital campaign to “restore the building from the foundation up” and shifting money from other areas for the repairs.
“That sounds good, but you can’t take money from one area without a vote from the district,” countered Hadley. She pointed out the existence of a reserve fund. If the presence of mold in the building was seen as an emergency, she said, it could be repaired immediately by tapping that fund.
“We need to step outside of the box,” said Fay. She said there was the possibility of grants and restoration funds if the historical value of the building could be established.
After the question and answer period, each candidate was given two minutes to conclude.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve had problems in the Village,” said Hadley, recalling a district meeting that once came to a physical head. “Things aren’t as bad as they could be, and I’m sure that we can make them better.”
Capen joked about his inexperience showing through, but added that he was “a quick study” and pledged “to learn as much as possible between now and the election.”
Barry and Fay noted they held many of the same positions, and concluded by thanking those gathered and taking some jabs at each other’s past actions.
“I’ve been involved since I moved here, and there’s no personal agenda,” Barry said. “I call ‘ em as I see ‘em.”
Fay again asserted her dedication to financial conservation, and said simply, “I strongly feel I can bring something to this village.”
The special election for the two open seats is expected to be held Dec. 21 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Cotuit Fire Department.